Hurd attended Lincoln College Preparatory Academy, in Kansas City, Missouri, where he participated in football, basketball, and baseball.
He received Kansas City prep athlete of the year honors as a senior.
Hurd was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 1987 NFL draft and was moved to linebacker.
He was re-signed to be a part of the Dallas replacement team that was given the mock name "Rhinestone Cowboys" by the media.
[5] In 1989, he was switched to defensive end and was placed on the injured reserve list with a right knee injury on August 28.